Gallery: Study: Arctic ice cap to melt in 10 years

The Catlin Arctic Survey and WWF released a study Thursday that shows the Actic Ocean sea ice is thinning and predicts the ocean will be almost completely ice free during summers 20 years from now - with most of the melting occurring within the next 10 years.

Manual drillings and observations by a team of researchers indicate that the ice on the northern part of the Beaufort Sea is made up almost entirely of first-year ice that averages about 1.8 meters thick. Previous studies have uncovered older, thicker, multi-year ice. The newer ice is more likely to melt away completely.

Martin Sommerkorn from WWF International Arctic Program said, "Today’s findings provide yet another urgent call for action to world leaders ahead of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen this December to rapidly and effectively curb global greenhouse gas emissions, with rich countries committing to reduce emissions by 40 percent by 2020."

Credit: Martin Hartley

Published: October 16, 2009 -- 12:18 GMT (05:18 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

Polar bears may soon be homeless.

Credit: Martin Hartley

Published: October 16, 2009 -- 12:18 GMT (05:18 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

Explorers Pen Hadow and Ann Daniels spent 73 days and trudged almost 300 miles on the Arctic Ocean.

Credit: Martin Hartley

Published: October 16, 2009 -- 12:18 GMT (05:18 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

Researchers used drilled holes through the ice using hand tools.

Credit: Martin Hartley

Published: October 16, 2009 -- 12:18 GMT (05:18 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

Examining ice samples.

Credit: Martin Hartley

Published: October 16, 2009 -- 12:18 GMT (05:18 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

Credit: Martin Hartley

Published: October 16, 2009 -- 12:18 GMT (05:18 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

Credit: Martin Hartley

Published: October 16, 2009 -- 12:18 GMT (05:18 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

Credit: Martin Hartley

Published: October 16, 2009 -- 12:18 GMT (05:18 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

Crossing a lead.

Credit: Martin Hartley

Published: October 16, 2009 -- 12:18 GMT (05:18 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

NASA studies of the Greenland ice sheet shows that it is also thinning quickly - in some places more than 3 feet per year. This means a loss of about 51 cubic centimeters of ice per year and a yearly gain of 0.005 inches in the global sea level.

Credit: NASA

Published: October 16, 2009 -- 12:18 GMT (05:18 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

The Arctic ice cap as it probably appeared in 1940.

Credit: NASA

Published: October 16, 2009 -- 12:18 GMT (05:18 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

The Arctic ice cap as it probably appeared in 2000.

Credit: NASA

Published: October 16, 2009 -- 12:18 GMT (05:18 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

The ozone layer over the Arctic is also depleted. Darker blue areas show the least amount of ozone.

The Caitlin Arctic Survey and WWF released data that shows the Actic Ocean sea ice is thinning and predicts the ocean will be relatively ice free during summers ten years from now.

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The Catlin Arctic Survey and WWF released a study Thursday that shows the Actic Ocean sea ice is thinning and predicts the ocean will be almost completely ice free during summers 20 years from now - with most of the melting occurring within the next 10 years.

Manual drillings and observations by a team of researchers indicate that the ice on the northern part of the Beaufort Sea is made up almost entirely of first-year ice that averages about 1.8 meters thick. Previous studies have uncovered older, thicker, multi-year ice. The newer ice is more likely to melt away completely.

Martin Sommerkorn from WWF International Arctic Program said, "Today’s findings provide yet another urgent call for action to world leaders ahead of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen this December to rapidly and effectively curb global greenhouse gas emissions, with rich countries committing to reduce emissions by 40 percent by 2020."